Together without plastic: try natural egg dyeing and eco-rriendly Easter decorations

During the Easter season, family gatherings become precious moments filled with warmth and joy. Our homes are filled with familiar holiday scents, while decorations, decorating Easter eggs, and sharing meals around the festive table create a special atmosphere. However, plastic decorations and artificial dyes that have a negative impact on the environment are often used. Through the Together Without Plastic campaign, Sunce aims to raise awareness within the local community about the harmful effects of single-use plastics and encourage the choice of more sustainable alternatives. In doing so, we not only protect the environment but also help preserve tradition and create a warmer, more personal atmosphere in our homes. Besides being environmentally unfriendly, artificial dyes can also be harmful to our health. That is why we have prepared ideas to help you embark on an eco-friendly Easter journey while awakening your creativity, using ingredients you probably already have at home.

Natural Easter egg dyeing

Before dyeing your eggs, it is important to prepare properly. Leave the boiled eggs at room temperature until they have cooled slightly. Protect your work surface and wear protective gloves.

All the colours described below are made using food ingredients. Once you choose the ingredient you want to use, prepare the dye by mixing the main ingredient with two to three cups of water and two tablespoons of vinegar. Place the eggs you want to dye into the mixture and leave them in the solution depending on the colour intensity you want to achieve. The final result will also depend on the natural colour of the eggs, white eggs will produce the best results. You can also leave them in the refrigerator overnight for a more intense colour.

Which ingredients can you use?

1. Blueberries

Colour: Blue to purple.

Method:

• Boil 1 cup of blueberries in 2 cups of water.
• Strain the liquid and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
• Soak the eggs for several hours or overnight for a deeper colour.

2. Onion skins

Colour: Red, brown, or orange (depending on the type of onion skins).

Method:

• Place red or yellow onion skins in a pot of water.
• Boil for 15–20 minutes, strain, and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
• Soak the eggs until the desired shade is achieved.

3. Parsley

Colour: Green.

Method:

• Boil parsley in water for about 20 minutes.
• Strain the liquid and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
• Leave the eggs in the solution until they turn green.

4. Turmeric

Colour: Yellow to orange.

Method:

• Mix 2–3 tablespoons of turmeric with 2 cups of water and bring to the boil.
• Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar.
• Leave the eggs in the solution until they develop a rich yellow colour.

5. Red cabbage

Colour: Blue (on white eggs), purple (on brown eggs).

Method:

1. Chop half a head of red cabbage and boil it in 1 litre of water for about 30 minutes.
2. Strain the liquid and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
3. Leave the eggs in the solution until they take on the desired colour.

6. Black tea / coffee

Colour: Brown (the shade depends on the type of tea or the strength of the coffee).

Method:

1. Brew strong black tea (2–3 tea bags) or coffee (3–4 teaspoons of Turkish coffee) in 2 cups of water.
2. Strain and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
3. Leave the eggs in the solution until they reach the desired brown shade.

7. Hibiscus flowers

Colour: Pink to purple.

Method:

1. Boil 1 cup of dried hibiscus flowers in 2 cups of water.
2. Strain the liquid and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
3. Leave the eggs in the solution for a while.

Once the eggs have been dyed, rub them with a little oil to give them a beautiful shine on your Easter table.

Eco-friendly easter decorations

Now that we have naturally dyed our eggs, we can move on to decorating our homes. The goal is to avoid plastic and use materials we already have, such as twigs, dried flowers, paper, or fabric.

With a little imagination, we can create simple yet effective decorations—flower wreaths, paper baskets, wool baskets, or cardboard figures. Natural materials create a warm atmosphere and make our homes feel even more welcoming.

This way of decorating is not only environmentally friendly but also a fun activity for the whole family. We have selected a few ideas to inspire your creativity.

Decoration ideas

1. Paper cup and wool baskets

Method:

1. Cut a paper cup into strips as shown in the picture.
2. Wrap wool around every other strip until you reach the top.
3. Use wire or another flexible material for the handle and wrap it with wool as well.
4. Add decorative details as you wish.

2. Paper egg wreath

Method:

1. Cut colourful paper into egg shapes.
2. Cut the centre out of a paper plate to create the shape of a wreath.
3. Glue the paper eggs around the wreath.
4. Attach a ribbon to the top so you can hang it on a door or window.

Source: Canva

3. Eggshell candles

Method:

1. Use an egg carton as a base.
2. Melt natural wax.
3. Place a wick inside empty eggshells and carefully pour in the melted wax.
4. Leave the candles to cool.
5. If desired, add a fragrant essential oil to the melted wax.

Source: Pexels

Now that you have discovered some new decorating ideas, give them a try and send us photos of your creations via our social media channels or our official email address: [email protected]. With your permission, we will share them in our Instagram Stories and perhaps inspire others to begin their own eco-friendly Easter journey.

We also invite you to become a member of Sunce. For our members, we organise creative workshops that encourage environmental awareness, creative expression, and collaborative making. Add your own personal touch to the creative process and enjoy making something unique. Share these ideas with others and involve your family and friends so you can create memories that will last a lifetime.